capillaries - tiny blood vessels between arteries and veins that distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body.

cardiac - pertaining to the heart.

cardiac arrest - the stopping of heartbeat.

cardiac catheterization - a diagnostic procedure in which a tiny, hollow tube (catheter) is advanced from a vessel in the groin through the aorta into the heart in order to image the heart and blood vessels.

cardiac output - the amount of blood that goes through the circulatory system in one minute.

cardiology - the clinical study and practice of treating the heart.

cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle that causes it to lose its pumping strength.

cardioversion - the procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.

carotid artery - the major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.

cerebral embolism - a blood clot from one part of the body that is carried by the bloodstream to the brain where it blocks an artery.

cerebral hemorrhage - bleeding within the brain.

cerebral thrombosis - formation of a blood clot in an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

cerebrovascular - pertaining to blood vessels in the brain.

cerebrovascular accident - apoplexy or stroke; an impeded blood supply to the brain.

cerebrovascular occlusion - an obstruction in the blood vessel in the brain.

cholesterol - a waxy substance that is produced in the human body, animal fats, and in dairy products and is transported in the blood.

cineangiography - the procedure of taking moving pictures to show the passage of dye through blood vessels.

circulatory system - pertaining to the heart and blood vessels, and the circulation of blood.

claudication - pain or fatigue in arms and legs due to poor supply of oxygen to the muscles.

computed tomography (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.

congenital - present at birth.

congestive heart failure - a condition in which the heart cannot pump out all of the blood that enters it, which leads to an accumulation of blood in the vessels and fluid in the body tissues.

coronary arteries - arteries that come from the aorta to provide blood to the heart muscle.

coronary artery bypass graft (CAB or CABG) - a surgical procedure in which a healthy blood vessel is transplanted from another part of the body into the heart to replace or bypass a diseased vessel.

coronary artery spasm - a sudden closing of an artery, which cuts off blood flow to the heart and causes symptom of angina or heart attack.

coronary heart disease - a condition in which the coronary arteries narrow from an accumulation of plaque (atherosclerosis) and cause a decrease in blood flow.

coronary occlusion - an obstruction of one of the coronary arteries that decreases flow to the heart muscle.

coronary thrombosis - the formation of a clot in one of the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

mitral valve - the valve that controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle in the heart.

mitral valve prolapse - a bulge in the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart that causes backward flow of blood into the atrium.

monounsaturated fats - dietary fats, such as olive oil or canola oil, that do not seem to have any affect on blood cholesterol.

murmur - a blowing or rasping sound heard while listening to the heart that may or may not indicate problems within the heart or circulatory system.

myocardial infarction (Also called heart attack.) - occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by a blocked blood flow to the heart muscle.

obesity - an excessive accumulation of fat in the body. A person with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 is considered obese.

occluded artery - an artery that is narrowed by plaque that impedes blood flow.

open heart surgery - surgery that involves opening the chest and heart while a heart-lung machine performs for the heart.

overweight - a label of ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given weight. A person with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 is considered overweight.

pacemaker - an electronic device that is surgically implanted into the patient's heart and chest to regulate heartbeat.

palpitation - irregular heartbeat that can be felt by a person.

percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - angioplasty.

pericardiocentesis - a diagnostic procedure that uses a needle to draw fluid from the pericardium.

pericarditis - inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart.

pericardium - the membrane that surrounds the heart.

plaque - deposits of fat or other substances attached to the artery wall.

platelets - cells found in the blood.

polyunsaturated fat - a type of fat found in vegetable oils and margarines that does not appear to raise blood cholesterol levels.

positron emission tomography (PET) - a nuclear scanning device that gives a three-dimensional picture of the heart to provide information about the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle.

pulmonary - pertains to lungs and respiratory system.

pulmonary edema - a condition in which there is a fluid accumulation in the lungs caused by an incorrectly functioning heart.

pulmonary valve - the heart valve located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery that controls blood flow to the lungs.

pulmonary vein - the vessel that carries newly oxygenated blood to the heart from the lungs.

pulse oximeter - a device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.